Frustrating

Gilks earned his first call-up to the Scotland squad in August after helping Blackpool to promotion from the Championship last season before making an impressive start to his first Premier League campaign.

The former Rochdale keeper did not feature in Scotland's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers and injury robbed him of a potential debut in the friendly against the Faroe Islands in November.

But Gilks is determined to get back into the squad for the Carling Nations Cup games against Wales and the Republic of Ireland in May.

"Getting that call-up was the biggest thing I've had in my career," he said.

"I never ever expected anything like that so I was devastated to have to pull out of the squad.

International hopes

"But if I get back into the team and start performing again then hopefully I can get into a few more squads and see what happens from there."

Gilks is out of contract in the summer and is yet to secure a deal for next season - either with Blackpool or elsewhere.

But he will put contract talks on hold until the end of the season to focus on the Tangerines' bid to maintain their top-flight status.

"I did get offered something in November, which I did turn down," Gilks added.

"I've not heard anything since but I think at this moment in time it's all about getting back playing and keeping this club in the Premier League, which is where we need to stay."